Paste dispenser for collapsible tubes



March 28, 1950 J. E. FLYNN ET AL. 2,502,081 7 PASTE DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed Sept. 5, 1945 ENVENTORS Patented Mar. 28, 1950 PASTE DISPENSER FORLCOLLAPSIBLE.

TUBES I Joseph Edward Flynn, Stamford, and Joseph James Harper, Jr., Noroton-HeightaConn.

Application" September 5, 1945, Serial No; 614,490

' 2 Claims; (01. 222- 98) This" invention relates to a paste dispenser for collapsible tubes, and has for an object to provide a simpleand improved construction to facilitatexdischarging of the paste from the collapsible tube in measured quantities as desired for use. It is also an objectptoprovide a construction to facil-itate connection of. the tube to the device in such a way that it is not/necessary to yfirst wind a portion of the flattened end of the tube on. the pressing means to secure the tube thereto with consequent waste of some of the paste.

Another object is to, provide a construction in which the collapsed tube may be easily and quick- 1y removed from the device without the necessity of wholly unwinding it from the collapsing means. With. the foregoing and other objects in view, we-have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the device is not limited to the specific details Fig, 2 is a section substantially on the line- 2.--2 of Fig. 1, but showing the device mounted. on a support, such, for example, as-a wall W;

Fig. 3 is a section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but with the two rollers removed;

Fig. 4 is: abottom planview ofthe. device; Fig-.5 is aside view of the operating roller re-- moved from the device;

Fig; 6 is. an end View thereof, and Figs. '7 and 8 are a side and end view respectively; of the other when Inthe .form shown by the drawing the device comprises a support or bracket .IU including. a base-II, spaced end walls or holders I2 and I3 and a connecting top wall I4. It may be mounted on any suitable support, such, for example, as a wall W. Mounted between the end walls or holders. I2 and I3 is a pair of rollers I and I6. In theform shown, the forward roller I5 is the operating roller, and is mountedv in openings IT and, I8 in the walls I2 and I3 forming bearings for it- This roller comprises a hollow tube provided'with a longtiudinalslot 19 in one side extending from its'inner end, and at its outer end is provided with a hand knob 20 for turning the roller in use. The slot I9 is of a width'to receive the flattened end portion 2| of a collapsible tube "when slid into the slot from "the inner open end 23- thereof, but thisslot is of less widththan the-closing. cap or clip 24', so that when the flats tened end of the tube is slid into the slot it will beiheld bythe clip crew 24 against lateral removal from the slot. This prevents the collapsible tube from dropping away from the roller and. holdsit for the winding operation, so that it is notxnecessaryto partially wind the tube on the roller to secure it to thelroller with consequent waste of a portion ofthe paste in the tube.- It. also :obviates the necessity ofholding the tube in thehand when starting: the winding operation. The side edges of the slot are preferably rounded so as not to cut the collapsible tube.

Cooperating. with the roller I5 is the second roller I6; This is also mounted in the end walls or holders l2 and I3, but in a somewhat different manner from the roller I5. For this purpose there is provided on the inner walls of each'of the end walls I2 and I3 a curved rib or stop 25' including a curved portion 26 and substantially parallel sides 21. This rib projects inwardly from the end wall and provides a bearing for each end of the roller I6.- The curved portion 26 need not becontinuous but" could be brokenaway at the center if desired to permit locating of the two rollers closer t0gether.- It is desired, however,

that the rollers bekept spaced a short distanceto; facilitate the winding operation and passage of the collapsed tube between them. This spacing of the rollers permits the wind-up roll I5 to be;

more easily pulled out. It also permits the collapsed, tube to go throughmore readilyand helps to prevent tearing of this tube. The spaced free ends of the side portions 21 provide an open sidev toeachbearing. and these ends are spaced from the-base wall II asufficient distance to permit passage of the ends of the roller I6 between the.

able meanasuchas rivets or screws 3!. The free. end portions. 29* of these springs rest against,

the rear side of the. roller I6 and press it. forwardly toward the roller I5 and hold it against.

the stop walls 25 so thatit is spaceda shortdistance from the roller I5 when no tube is in place. These: springs and stops also keep the back roller in position when the front roller is removed. The springs provide sufficient pressure to collapse the collapsible tube 22 between the rollers as this tube is wound onto the roller l5 and discharge the paste from the lower end or nipple 32 of this tube. These springs permit the roller I8 to yield or shift backwardly in the bearings 25 as the collapsed tube is wound onto the roller 15, and also provide a suitable friction to prevent unwinding of the tube by weight of the tube. With this arrangement and mounting of the rear roller 16 in the stops 25, which retain this roller spaced from the wind-up roller l5, the device can be loaded and unloaded without any interference with the back roller is or the springs 28. A rounded guide 33 is provided on the inner side of the base H under the rollers against which ample as about one or two turns, which will loosen the wound tube on the roller, then the handle 20 may be drawn to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, drawing with it the roller [5. This will bring the collapsed tube against the end wall or holder l3 and withdraw it longitudinally from the roller I5, as it will slide longitudinally on the roller and in the slot I9, or it can be withdrawn with the left hand by sliding it to the left longitudinally on the roller. Thus the collapsed tube may be readily removed from this device without wholly unwinding it from the roller, greatly facilitating the removal of the collapsed tube and the insertion of a new filled tube.

The bracket or support may be made of various materials as desired, such as wood, metal and the like, but is preferably formed of some the collapsible tube 22 rests, and by which it is retained in the proper upright position and guided properly between the two rollers.

In inserting the collapsible tube 22 the hollow tubular roll (5 is drawn to the right, as shown in Fig. 1, by means of the knob or handle 20. This draws the inner end of this roller from the bearing 5? in the end wall l2 and permits the flattened end of the tube 22 to be slid into the slot !9 from the inner open end 23 of this slot. This arrangement takes any size tube and holds the tube without the necessity of winding any of it on the roller. Therefore, no winding of the tube on the roller is necessary to prevent its falling out when starting and no paste is lost. Then theroller I5 is pushed back to insert its free end in the bearing I 1 in the end wall or holder I2 to the position of Fig. 1, bringing the tube 22 to a position in front of the guide 33. This guide locates the tube so the flattened end of this tube 22 will be directed between the two rollers i5 and it, and if the cap on the threaded end 32 is removed, then by turning the handle 20 towards the operator, or clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2, the tube will be wound on the roller l5 and pass between the two rollers l5 and I6, and will be collapsed by the pressure of these two rollers, forcing the desired amount of paste from the tube. While the tube is passing between the rollers the springs 28 maintain an equal pressure on the tube, thus squeezing the paste from the tube as it passes between them, and they permit the back roller Hi to yield as the tube is wound on the front roller IS. The guide 33 keeps the tube central at all times. The free edge of this guide is preferably rounded to let the tube pass freely by it. The amount of paste dispensed is regulated by the knob or handle 20, and the desired amounts of paste are dispensed until the base or neck 34 of the tube is brought against the rollers. There is then only a small amount of paste remaining in the tube, but with this device even this may be removed by holding the left hand on the neck of the tube and pulling down slightly, and at the same time, with the right hand, turning the knob 28 and roller Iii slightly toward the wall or counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2. About one turn is sufficient, which will loosen the tube sufficiently to permit the base or neck of the tube to be placed against the front of the roller l5 by the left hand, and then by pressing inwardly slowly on the tube to press it against the front of the roller l5, the remaining paste may be forced out.

To remove the collapsed tube it is merely necessary to turn the handle '20 backwardly or toward the wall a short distance, such. for ex-- molded plastic material. It will be seen that this device can be used with different sizes of tubes, such as small or large toothpaste tubes or various sizes of shaving cream tubes, or tubes containing other materials. It may be mounted on any suitable support, such as a wall W by any suitable means such as screws (not shown) through openings 35 in laterally extending ears 38 provided on the support.

Having thus set forth the nature of our invention, we claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a support including a base and spaced end walls ext-ending outwardly from the base, a tubular roller mounted in said end walls provided with a longitudinal slot leading from the inner end thereof adapted to receive the flattened closed end of a collapsible tube by sliding it into the slot from the end thereof and of less width than the closing clip on said tube to prevent dropping of the tube from the slot, means for rotating the roller to wind the tube thereon, a second roller located at one side of the first roller with its ends between the end walls, a stop on the inner side of each of the end walls forming bearings for the ends of the second roller, said stops being substantially U-shaped recesses and positioned with their closed sides toward the first roller so as to limit movement of the second roller toward the first roller and to maintain it spaced a short distance therefrom and also to permit the second roller to move away from the first roller as the tube is wound thereon, and springs tending to shift the second roller toward the first to collapse the tube between them.

2. A device of the character described comprising a support including a base and outwardly extending spaced end walls, a tubular roller mounted in said end walls provided with a longitudinal slot in one side extending from its inner end adapted to receive the flattened closed end of a collapsible tube by sliding into the slot from said end, said slot being of less width than the closing clip of the tube to prevent its moving laterally through the slot, a second roller to the rear of the first roller, stop means on the inner sides of the end walls comprising rearwardly opening recesses forming bearings for the ends of the second roller and arranged with their closed sides forming means limiting forward movement of this roller, said end walls closing the outer sides of said recesses to cooperate with the ends of the second roller to prevent longitudinal movement of this roller, springs engaging the second roller tending to move it forwardly toward the first roller and retain it against said stop means, and means for rotating the first roller to draw a collapsible tube between the rollers and wind it on the first roller.

JOSEPH EDWARD FLYNN. JOSEPH JAMES HARPER, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Keiper Oct. 9, 1923 Ury Jan. 15, 1929 Austin Jan. 24, 1933 Bonham Feb. 12, 1935 Mills July 16, 1935 

